McCain courts Fla. Hispanics

Miami Herald ^ | 16 Sep 2008 | BETH REINHARD AND MARY ELLEN KLAS

[BGHater]

Speaking to a predominantly Hispanic audience considered crucial to winning Florida, Republican John McCain vowed Monday to make immigration one of his ''first priorities'' if elected president and accused Democrat Barack Obama of spiking reforms in Congress.

McCain spearheaded a bill in 2006 -- reviled by the right wing of his own party -- that would have allowed illegal immigrants to earn citizenship. Obama supported the overall goal but backed controversial amendments that would have limited a guest worker program.

''The fact is that Sen. Obama proposed amendments that would have killed the legislation. I fought for it,'' McCain told more than 350 people at a town hall meeting.

McCain leveled the same charge in ads running in Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada, which Obama called ''dishonest'' in an interview Sunday on Spanish-language television.

Once pummeled for backing what critics tarred as ''amnesty,'' McCain has talked little about immigration during the general election campaign. He did not raise the issue Monday in Jacksonville, reliably Republican turf where he began a two-day tour that wraps up Tuesday in Tampa.

But Orlando offered a different audience. Central Florida is home to a fast-growing Hispanic community coveted for its political independence, unlike the staunchly Republican Cuban-American voters who have dominated Miami-Dade politics.

[Calpernia]

>>>No one is saying amnesty.

No hablas espanol?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyKGHvRL2_U

Legal immigrants have a path to citizenship. Illegal do not.

[EEDUDE]

"who hate Hispanics so much"

You have really missed the boat if you believe that this is what's behind the push against illegal immigration and amnesty.

Try listening to what we are saying and quit making assumptions about how we feel about Hispanics.

[EEDUDE]

Excellent post!

[Norman Bates]

Sorry I don’t have the time to watch that video. I’d like to see a quote though.

[Texas4ever]

Who are you? and how did you become so cynical? Are you kidding me your not a conservative...you are an Obama infiltrator///what the heck!

[kabar]

Immigration will go nowhere. Remember there is Legislation and power to the states.

You must be joking. Amnesty passed the Rep controlled senate in 2006 [S 2611]. McCain will push for amnesty and it will pass the Senate with the combination of Dems and RINOs. The battle will be fought in the House and I am pessimistic about our chances if McCain wins the WH and puts pressure on the Reps in the House. He will say that he was elected and being for amnesty is not a political liability. He is the poster boy for that position.

[TomGuy]

Secure the border has been a shellgame term since it was first used.

Because they never define what securing the border actually means, it has little substance.

The key factor is that border governors will tell Homeland Security that their border is secure.

Wallah! Done! Borders are secure because the governors say so. So pass out the green cards!

[kabar]

The 2006 senate amnesty bill [S 2611] passed.

[kabar]

The 2006 senate amnesty bill [S 2611] passed.

[cripplecreek]

Who are you? and how did you become so cynical? Are you kidding me your not a conservative...you are an Obama infiltrator///what the heck!

LOL better get a moderator and get rid of me.

[Texas4ever]

The great debate....this could get us against McCain...

Obama could win...and you will still have your open borders.

But not a problem...because under Obama you wont even recognize your in America. I hope you like the Koran.

[Calpernia]

http://freerepublic.info/focus/f-news/2029203/posts

“McCain has committed to the fence,” Hunter said. “John will keep his word.”

[Texas4ever]

nah your fun!

[Las Vegas Ron]

Yeah that's it, we're a bunch of racists. Sheesh what a maroon

Thanks. You said it much nicer than I could have.

[Texas4ever]

Besides it doesnt matter....we are all conservatives here.

The battle is out there...and whew! It is ugly...have you seen those ugly witchy women who yell at the TV and wont let anyone speak....until you say the word BAAARRRAAAK.

Man its scarey!!! DIOS MIO (I couldnt resist)

[Texas4ever]

Besides it doesnt matter....we are all conservatives here.

The battle is out there...and whew! It is ugly...have you seen those ugly witchy women who yell at the TV and wont let anyone speak....until you say the word BAAARRRAAAK.

Man its scarey!!! DIOS MIO (I couldnt resist)

[Calpernia]

>>>McCain has said repeatedly that he is not going back to the 2007 amnesty bill. It’s dead.

And yet, here are McCain’s own words....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0hVjtC8_pI
McCain promises amnesty in first 100 days to NALEO

And here is McCain’s ad, in SPANISH, promising a path to citizenship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyKGHvRL2_U
posted by From: JohnMcCaindotcom
paid for by: McCain/Palin

[WalterSkinner]

..I remember now, thanks for the link

DH will be an important voice in keeping the issue alive in coming months--he's still "First Dude" in my house...

[Calpernia]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0hVjtC8_pI
McCain promises amnesty in first 100 days to NALEO

And here is McCain’s ad, in SPANISH, promising a path to citizenship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyKGHvRL2_U
posted by From: JohnMcCaindotcom
paid for by: McCain/Palin

[TomGuy]

McCain has said repeatedly that he is not going back to the 2007 amnesty bill.

He has also said that, if it were to make it to his presidential desk, he would sign it.

==

Read an eyewitness report of his closed-door meeting with Hispanics this summer:

Inside McCain’s closed-door meeting with Chicago Hispanics (June 19, 2008)